Review: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: The Raven Boys
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Genre: YA Paranormal
Publisher: Scholastic
Published: September 19th 2012
Page Number: 454
Rating: 2/5

Blue has spent the majority of her sixteen years being told that if she kisses her true love, he will die. When Blue meets Gansey’s spirit on the corpse road she knows there is only one reason why – either he is her true love or she has killed him.

Determined to find out the truth, Blue becomes involved with the Raven Boys, four boys from the local private school (lead by Gansey) who are on a quest to discover Glendower – a lost ancient Welsh King who is buried somewhere along the Virginia ley line. Whoever finds him will be granted a supernatural favour.

Never before has Blue felt such magic around her. But is Gansey her true love? She can’t imagine a time she would feel like that, and she is adamant not to be the reason for his death. Where will fate lead them?

I was really looking forward to reading The Raven Boys since I have heard nothing but great things about the series. And since it was about Welsh Mythology, and I am Welsh myself I though that I would really, really like it, but I couldn't have been more wrong.

The Prologue and Chapter 1 were so interesting and they easily captured my attention. I wanted to know more. I needed to know more. But after that things started to get.....boring. Nothing was happening apart from the fact that we learn that Blue has a job and Adam skips school because his father hits him. That was it. There was nothing interesting going on to keep my attention, and by the time that I was on page 160, I had to give up. I couldn't force myself to continue reading a book I simply wasn't enjoying.

What I really liked about the book were Blue's eccentric family. They all harness psychic abilities, but they're all very unusual as well and I found them to be very charming. They reminded me of Nanny McPhee, not in a bad way. Just how their personalities were very similar. I also liked how Maggie showed that family doesn't always have to be of a blood relation, sometimes your best friends can be like your brothers and sisters.

I did, however, have a few problems with the Mythology in the book. Like I said, I am Welsh so I knew what Maggie was talking about, but when she started calling Owain Glyndwr, Glendower then things started to go wrong. Owain Glyndwr is a Welsh legend, so changing his name - even though it was so that people could pronounce it - just didn't sit well with me, I know it also didn't sit well with a friend of mine.

Overall, I would recommend this book to readers. But it does heavily depend on what books you like to read. So if you think you'd like this book, then go ahead and read it!

 

Buy the book (Waterstones) | Buy the book (Book Depository)

The Books I am Currently Reading...

I feel like I haven't written a blog post in a while, I guess that's because I really haven't. Like most blog posts mine are scheduled, so they're always written at least 2 weeks before hand. Sometimes I'll write and upload straight away, but that is hardly ever. With me being ill these past few days, I've not had the time to really write anything up. What I have been doing, however, is marathoning TV shows on Netflix (If you'd like me to write a Netflix Recommendations post, then let me know in the comments!).

 

Anyway. This morning I woke up pretty early and started to crave reading. I haven't read a book in about a week, so when I saw The Raven Boys on my shelf I just had to pick it up. Immediately I was drawn into the book and now I am 100 pages in. I really like it! It's really well written with unusual, quirky characters. I especially love Ronan.

I'm hoping to finish The Raven Boys tomorrow and then I'm hoping to finish the rest of the series by the end of next week. I may not finish it by then, but I'm just finally happy to be making a start on this series, which is based on Welsh Mythology. It actually feels good when they mention anything to do with Wales and I'm like "I know that. Ha!"



What are you currently reading?
Let me know in the comments.

Top 5 Wednesday: Series I Want to Start in 2015

5th - Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins - YA Paranormal

I own the first book and I really like the idea of being tempted to Sin. It's a whole different spin on Paranormal and I've heard nothing but good things about it from my friends. I also happen to adore the covers.


4th - The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater - YA Paranormal

Stiefvater takes on Welsh Mythology in this 4 book series and I'm so excited to see what she does with it. The final book comes out sometime this year and I'm hoping to have read the first 3 before the last books release date. I will note that Steifvater changes Owain Glyndwr's name to Glendower, which I find a little offensive.


3rd - Half-Blood by Jennifer L Armentrout - YA Paranormal/Mythology

I've read Obsidian and Onyx by Jennifer L Armentrout and really enjoyed them, so I want to see what her other series are like. I'll also be starting White Hot Kiss this year as well.


2nd - The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa - YA Paranormal/Dystopian

I tried to read this book last year and really loved what I read. I was engrossed for those first 90 pages...until my fingers started to swell up. However, I'm so tempted to read them this year that nothing will stop me. I need to start somewhere with Vampires and I think this is my best option. I'll also be starting Talon and The Iron King by Julie Kagawa this year.


1st - Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers - YA Historical/Fantasy

This trilogy follows three different characters and each character has their own book. If you don't know what they're about then buckle up because you're in for a surprise. The series follows 3 girls who are trained to be assassins by....Nuns. Yes, Nuns! I started to read the sample of this on iBooks and liked what I read.


What series do you plan on starting this year?
Let me know in the comments.

 

 

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